TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DREW COUNTY ADVANCE JANUARY 21, 1919 P. 7
Miss Bessie Measel, Wilmer, Ark.
Dear Sister:
How are you this Thanksgiving day. I am feeling fine and am counting on eating a big dinner for we will have 52 rabbits, not cotton tails, but big Belgian Hares. They cost 400 francs, amounting to $80.00 in American money. Will also have cake and pumpkin pie and that is where I shine. We are only drilling five and a half hours now. We have Wednesday evening and all of Saturday and holidays off, so you see it is not as bad as it was a while.
Well, sister, I will tell you something of my trip. We set sail from New York on the 2nd day of October about 4 P.M. I was put on guard to watch for submarines and there was not much fun in it. When the waves would wash up on the deck some of the boys got wet. We made the trip in seven days. Some time past it took most of the men from twelve to fourteen days. We landed in Southampton, England, on October 9th, stayed there only one night, crossed the English Channel, and landed in Leehume, France; had to hike about four and a half miles through the rain and mud to the camp. Stayed there several days and moved to Nantis, spent about two weeks there and then we took a train for the classification camp. Was examined and started for St. George only 18 miles and believe me we were some tired boys when we landed in St. George, after hiking eighteen miles on a rock road and we will be here five weeks Friday. This was the last stop before reaching the front. We were ordered out three times to go to the front, but the order was cancelled each time. We even kept our packs rolled all one night, expecting to be called out any moment. So you can see what I have to be thankful for, my good health and a number of other things. Well, Sister, I am here in the Y. M. C. A. and it is about time for Thanksgiving service to begin so I had better stop. Give my dear mother and father a big hug and kiss for me and be sure and write often for I am always glad to hear from any of you.
Your bud,
Prv. Denson R. Measel,
Co. Ml, 163 Inf., U. S. Army, A. E. F., France
NOTES: Denson Rodgers Measel was born on May 3, 1895 in Enon, Arkansas (Carroll County) and died on August 13, 1956. He enlisted in the military on August 6, 1918 and was discharged on June 9, 1919. He departed Marseille, France on May 17, 1919 onboard the Argentina and arrived in Brooklyn, NY on June 3, 1919. He was listed as a Private serving in Co. E., 149th Infantry. The 149th was part of the 38th Division. The transport document noted he was from Wilmar, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED LAEL HARROD
Miss Bessie Measel, Wilmer, Ark.
Dear Sister:
How are you this Thanksgiving day. I am feeling fine and am counting on eating a big dinner for we will have 52 rabbits, not cotton tails, but big Belgian Hares. They cost 400 francs, amounting to $80.00 in American money. Will also have cake and pumpkin pie and that is where I shine. We are only drilling five and a half hours now. We have Wednesday evening and all of Saturday and holidays off, so you see it is not as bad as it was a while.
Well, sister, I will tell you something of my trip. We set sail from New York on the 2nd day of October about 4 P.M. I was put on guard to watch for submarines and there was not much fun in it. When the waves would wash up on the deck some of the boys got wet. We made the trip in seven days. Some time past it took most of the men from twelve to fourteen days. We landed in Southampton, England, on October 9th, stayed there only one night, crossed the English Channel, and landed in Leehume, France; had to hike about four and a half miles through the rain and mud to the camp. Stayed there several days and moved to Nantis, spent about two weeks there and then we took a train for the classification camp. Was examined and started for St. George only 18 miles and believe me we were some tired boys when we landed in St. George, after hiking eighteen miles on a rock road and we will be here five weeks Friday. This was the last stop before reaching the front. We were ordered out three times to go to the front, but the order was cancelled each time. We even kept our packs rolled all one night, expecting to be called out any moment. So you can see what I have to be thankful for, my good health and a number of other things. Well, Sister, I am here in the Y. M. C. A. and it is about time for Thanksgiving service to begin so I had better stop. Give my dear mother and father a big hug and kiss for me and be sure and write often for I am always glad to hear from any of you.
Your bud,
Prv. Denson R. Measel,
Co. Ml, 163 Inf., U. S. Army, A. E. F., France
NOTES: Denson Rodgers Measel was born on May 3, 1895 in Enon, Arkansas (Carroll County) and died on August 13, 1956. He enlisted in the military on August 6, 1918 and was discharged on June 9, 1919. He departed Marseille, France on May 17, 1919 onboard the Argentina and arrived in Brooklyn, NY on June 3, 1919. He was listed as a Private serving in Co. E., 149th Infantry. The 149th was part of the 38th Division. The transport document noted he was from Wilmar, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED LAEL HARROD